New England Patriots - NESN.com
It was already determined that David Andrews wouldn’t play for the New England Patriots this season.
And the longtime captain and two-time Super Bowl champion decided he won’t play anywhere else, either.
The Patriots announced on Wednesday that Andrews is calling it a career as he will hold a retirement press conference on Monday at Gillette Stadium at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Andrews is a Patriots success story as the offensive lineman played nine seasons in the NFL — all with New England — after going undrafted out of Georgia. He started 121 of the 124 games he appeared in during his career.
Being a mainstay along the offensive line for several seasons took its toll on Andrews physically when he got to the end of his career. A shoulder injury limited Andrews to only four games last season and the Patriots decided to move on from the 32-year-old in March by releasing him.
Andrews served as a key cog in New England’s offensive line throughout his time with the Patriots. The center played at least 94% of the team’s offensive snaps for six seasons, which coincided with two Super Bowl wins for the Patriots over the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams.
Patriots players and coaches always lauded Andrews’ leadership ability and it was reflected in him being named a team captain eight times.
“The importance of his leadership during his career cannot be overstated,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement following Andrews’ release. “David is a true professional, and his impact on this organization will be felt for many years to come. On behalf of the entire Kraft family and the New England Patriots, I want to express my deepest gratitude for his countless contributions, and we look forward to celebrating his remarkable career.”
New England signed Garrett Bradbury to replace Andrews at the center spot, but Andrews’ retirement further signals the Patriots are entering a completely new era with Mike Vrabel at the helm.
